‘Saltblood’ by Francesca De Torres is the story of real life historical figure Mary Read, who is born in Plymouth in 1675 and leads a remarkable life that sees her joining the navy and the calvary, before she becomes a pirate - all as a woman pretending to be a man. What a life and what an epic book.

Mary/Mark

In order to ensure that an inheritance continues from the family of her deceased husband, Mary’s mother raises her as a boy - Mark, which is also the name of her deceased infant brother. This ‘secret’ identity continues into life as a servant and then the navy and cavalry.

In the main they call me Mary Read.

As for my true name?

Go ask the sea.

I don’t want to spoil too much of the story, just to say that the first half has a cracking pace as Mary/Mark makes her way in the world. It’s a proper page turner, her story beautifully told. The second half, while not continuing at the same breakneck speed of her earlier life, is just as compelling.

Nautical Books

I do enjoy a good nautical book. ‘Madhouse at the End of the Earth’ by Julian Sancton was a nightmarish but compulsive read set on a ship trapped by ice in the Antartcia. ‘Saltblood’ is mostly set around the Atlantic Ocean and later in the Bahamas, and nowhere near as claustrophobic, but there’s still the small crew on board that you get to know, and it is fraught with danger.

It’s very much a book about identity - Mary lives a life as a girl, a boy, a man and eventually as a woman. And it’s about starting anew - not only does Mary slip between genders, but she reinvents herself constantly, and the sea is new each day.

‘For myself, I have long since understood myself as something altogether more spacious than the narrow port of either woman or man.’

It asks the question - what is our identity based on? What defines us as a person, and when we realise our identity is built on the shifting sands of gender/occupation/family/childhood/favourite football team/whatever you build your identity around - what are you left with when that crumbles?

It’s also about freedom - Mary dreams of a Republic of pirates, where man and woman are equal and all the riches, and love, are shared.

‘How can I make in words the sea, or the singing of the ships? Such things Iearned not through language but through my hands on the lines and my bare feet braced against the deck, my eyes squinting against the salt spray. I have swum deep, the sky a distant thing beyond the veil of the sea. What words could tell the truth of this?’

Gráinne Mhaol

‘Saltblood’ is based on the historical figure of Mary Read, but it also made me think of another famous Irish female pirate from history, known as Gráinne Mhaol, who routed the English in the 1500’s. She’s also known to Anne Bonny in this book, who recounts how she commanded twenty galleys, and birthed a child one day before rising to fight fiercely against the Corsairs the next. I can’t imagine human resources or health and safety being too impressed with that.

Mary is great narrator, completely believable throughout. She has fierce loyalty to those around her, especially colourful characters such as Calico Jack and Anne Bonny. At times her life is a struggle for survival, and she suffers a lot of loss -it’s a life that has taught her much. It’s down to the skill of the author that you sense Mary’s growing confidence, as she becomes comfortable with who she is, especially as a pirate. She’s great company throughout.

Flow

I loved the prose in this - it has an earthy lyrical flow, crackling with wit and especially wisdom. So many beautiful descriptive passages, especially about life on the sea, and the perilous life of a pirate is vivid and vital. The storytelling is totally immersive and so well paced -my interest never flagged in this book.

And a word to for the historical research from the author (there’s a lengthy list of sources at the end) - it’s never top heavy, and blends in seamlessly with the narrative.

Saltblood summary

What a superb debut novel from Francesa De Tores, a swashbuckling adventure story that’s also about gender fluidity and identity, full of interesting characters and a fascinating narrator who lead an extraordinary life.

Given the subject matter, I’d be shocked if there wasn’t a series/film already in production - it’s made for these times.

‘For years I felt myself a stowaway in my own life. But the sea has taught me this: such days as I was granted, they were mine’

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC.

Amazon US Amazon UK Bookshop.org

Pub Date 25 Apr 2024

328 Pages